An overhaul necessary in Kenyan Bursary schemes

Bungoma County Governor, Wycliffe Wangamati displays a dummy cheque of Sh 20 million that will be used to pay school fees for needy children joining Form One in national schools this year. [Photo BY Raphael Wanjala/Standard]

With single-minded determination, 15-year-old Grace Awino left her home in Nambale, Busia County, on foot. Her destination was Butere Girls High School, the school of her dreams 40km away. From her accounts, she had chosen to commit her future to fate. All her life, she has endured hardship, and what looked like a little more discomfort did not daunt Grace.

Despite scoring 392 marks in the 2017 KCPE, Grace knew with certainty that her single mother could not facilitate her joining secondary school. What with the prohibitive fees. She had no school fees, no shoes, not even fare to get her to her school of choice.